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| Soft spoken Meira is LS Speaker | | | Agencies
New Delhi, June 03: History was scripted on Wednesday as senior dalit Congress leader Meira Kumar, who was unanimously elected as Lok Sabha Speaker to become the first woman to hold the top Constitutional post, vowed to be a "neutral person".
Her election as the Speaker of the House was cleared by a voice vote by all members of the Lok Sabha.
Addressing her first press conference after being elected speaker of the lower house of Parliament, Meira Kumar said that she would be impartial and give equal opportunity to all members to express their views.
"It will be my endeavour that I am completely impartial in my conduct and I give opportunity to all the members to express their views," she said.
The new Lok Sabha Speaker also expressed her gratitude for being elected by saying that she is deeply honoured that she has been elected the first woman speaker of our great and vibrant democracy.
She, however, sidestepped questions on whether she would resign from Congress in the Speaker.
"Certainly the Speaker should be above board, impartial and neutral. That is what is expected of a Speaker," she said when repeatedly asked the question.
Earlier, leaders cutting across the political spectrum, including Leader of Opposition L K Advani, Mamata Banerjee (Trinamool Congress), T R Baalu (DMK), Arjun Charan Sethi (BJD), Sharad Yadav (JD-U), Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP), Lalu Prasad (RJD), Ram Sundar Das (JD-U), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Farooq Abdullah (NC) and E Ahamed (Muslim League) also tabled their motions proposing Kumar's name for the post.
The assumption of office by Kumar, a former IFS officer and Union Minister, was hailed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with Advani and leaders of other parties, who hoped that she would ensure smooth functioning of the House.
Singh hailed the election of the MP from Sasaram in Bihar as a historic moment and said her services as a distinguished diplomat, 25 years in Parliament and her role as a Minister would stand her in good stead to execute her onerous job well.
Accepting the honour, Kumar vowed that she would leave no stone unturned in maintaining the dignity of the House and its members.
Recalling his association with Kumar's father, late Jagjivan Ram, the Prime Minister said she was an "embodiment" of the same qualities of "wisdom, knowledge and experience".
Accepting with humility and gratefulness the honour bestowed on her, Meira Kumar said it would be her principal duty to conduct the Lok Sabha in keeping with the Constitution, rules and traditions.
She said the assumption of the office of Speaker by a woman was a "historic" occasion in the 57 years of Parliament and it has come at a time when the Lok Sabha has a record number of women members.
Noting that she was aware of successful tenures of her predecessors from Ganesh Vasudev Mavlankar to Somnath Chatterjee, the Speaker said they had worked to promote the dignity of the post and that she would continue the search for better methods.
Seeking to disapprove of attempts to disrupt Parliament, she observed that no citizen would ever like that the working of the House should be disrupted while raising any issue concerning him.
"Disrupting of the work of Parliament does not allow the review of the work of government, its omissions and commissions by Parliament and the principles of democracy demand that this should not happen," Kumar said.
She said people were seeking good governance from MPs, whether they are on the ruling side or in the opposition.
"We must give them (people) good governance... People are looking at you (members) with high hopes and I am confident that you would make all efforts to make their lives better," Kumar said.
Kumar said the youth understood the value of their votes. "We have to give priority to the aspirations of young India. We have to do it in the earliest as the youth is impatient, which should also be the case."
Kumar pointed that the number of women MPs -- 58 -- was the maximum so far in the Lower House. "This highlights the fact that the Indian woman cannot wait any longer to set herself free from the bondages of the society and seek equal share on the path of development."
"We sent a good signal to every nook and corner of the country when two years ago we elected the first woman President. Today by electing the first woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha we have once again proved that we not only support empowerment of women but are also committed towards implementing it at the grass-roots level."
Kumar also thanked Protem Speaker Manikrao Gavit for conducting the business of the House efficiently in the last three days.
JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda called upon all parties to maintain the "decorum and decency" of the House while participating in debates.
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